Chapter 136

"Uhm, how did we end up like this?" I said, looking at all the toys and stall rewards Kayda and I had in our hands. In one of them, the other was holding the girl from before.

"Well, I blame everything on you," Kayda said with a pouting face. 

"Who was the one that said it's fine? We will take care of her for the night," 

"ugh, that might be my fault, but I couldn't help it. Her puppy eyes were just adorable," Kayda said, rubbing her head awkwardly.

"yeah, and my glare did nothing."

"that... you were glaring at me? I thought you were just wondering what I was going to do with that straight face of yours." Kayda said, tilting her head at me, confused.

"... no, I wasn't," I said, looking away from her.

'Fuck you, illusion.' I cursed in my thoughts.

"Also, I can't take all the blame for this. You didn't have to win all those festival games."

"I hate losing, and you know that."

"tch, true," Kayda said, clicking her tongue, looking away.

"so, what are we going to do? The main event is happening soon."

"what?" 

"ah, my flower? It's going to vanish in about an hour or so." I said, pointing at the flower that was still burning but noticeably less than the start of the festival.

"Wow, that's true. Now that you say that it seems like the mana is being taken away."

"Yeah, someone is sucking out the mana to make a perfect night."

"huh, you can see the mana moving now?"

"huh, no, remember that flower is made out of my mana. Of course, I will feel it moving around. Well, when I am close to it."

"But you can't get control back?" 

"well, no..."

"..." Kayda didn't say anything, just stared at me.

"...hey little girl, let's get you back to your uncle," I said, looking at the little one that was staring at us.

"Okay!" The girl shouted happily.

"Hey, you do remember the way, right," I asked her just in case I took a wrong turn.

"Uhm yeah, I do." 

"cool," I mumbled, smiling kindly at her.

"Hehe, Jenny is a smart girl."

"yes, yes, you are very smart," Kayda said, joining in.

"Hehe, thank you for the great night," Jenny said, looking at both of us.

"If you say so," I said, giving her a smile.

"you are a very nice person, Kitsuna."

"and your very naïve girly. Don't change." I said, making her very confused.

"it's jenny, and she's a kid. What do you expect," Kayda said, disappointed?

"Nothing, just that she should never learn what the world is like."

"sigh, okay, whatever. We are almost back to your uncle." Kayda said, shaking her at my words.

"Okay!"

[10 minutes later]

"thank you so much for taking care of little jenny."  Jennies' uncle said, bowing down to Kayda and me.

"it's fine. We said we would take care of her."

"we?" I mumbled, giving Kayda a slide glance.

"yes, we," Kayda said, ending the argument before it could start, not that I intended to start one.

"Again, thank you for taking care of her." The uncle said again, giving us a bow before taking all the toys we won for jenny with him.

"Thank you, guys," Jenny shouted happily, waving us off.

"Blegh, too many sparkles," I mumbled, disgusted.

"For once, I agree with you," Kayda said, waving back at them.

"Now what?" I asked, looking at her waiting for an answer.

"Hmm, good question. Look for a spot where your flower explodes?" Kayda asked with an inclined head.

"Yeah, that sounds good," I said in agreement.

"and romantic."

"... I guess."

"Hehe, come, let's go," Kayda said excited, taking my left hand.

"Hey, guys, your back." Just before we started to walk off, Katie shouted from the side, waving at us, surprised she wasn't with her mother.

"oh, Katie, what's up? Did you lose your mother?" I asked, tilting my head at her, not seeing her mother with her.

"huh, no, she told me to tell you there are stands set up in that direction for everyone to spectate the festival's highlight." 

"highlight? Not the end?"

"no, there is still a dancing part at the end." 

"oh shit," I mumbled, realising my situation.

"Hmm, is there a problem with dancing?" Katie asked, confused.

"no, not at all," I said, looking away.

"she can't dance, or so she says," Kayda said, grinning.

"I really can't... never had before," I said, adding the last part inaudible.

"Hmm, but you're a good fighter, right? Like in using your body and stuff?"

"Hmm, not as good as my mother, but I am decent enough," I said with a thoughtful expression, not knowing what Katie was trying to say.

"then you will be fine if you have a good leader," Katie said, looking at Kayda.

"Nope, I don't have an idea how to lead someone in dancing," Kayda said, surrendering.

"hmm, I guess I will ask mom to help her then," Katie said, no one in particular.

"And if I don't want to?"

"you don't have a choice in the matter. My mother wants to see you two dance together, and she is going to get it." 

"... why does this feel like a thing with the marquises? Like all of you, just get what you want."

"ah, now that you mention it for you, it does sound and feel like that, doesn't it," Kayda said, not even trying to hide her smile.

"So, Mom and An do this to a lot of people?" I asked, tilting my head, not understanding why she was smiling.

"ah no, they do this only to you," Kayda said.

"Ugh, seriously."

"Yeah~."

"why."

"because it's probably funny for them," Kayda explains, laughing.

"Ugh, I hate them," I mumbled, pouting.

"ha-ha, don't be like that. They are doing it out of love," Kayda said, grabbing my left arm.

"Pfft yeah, sure."

"anyways, are you guys coming in ng or what?"

"no, we will find our own spot. We will join you," I said, trying to shoo her away. 

"uh, nope, you are coming with no choice."

"What really."

"Just give it up, Kitsu. We aren't getting out of this one."

"so, let's go."

"... Damn it!" I cursed, following behind Katie while holding Kaydas's hand.

[5 min later]

"oh, you guys are finally here. The fireworks won't be happening for another 30 minutes." An said, seeing us walking up to her and sitting on a bench outside the festival area.

"Yo still that long before it goes?" I asked, tilting my head at her.

"Yeah, we were planning to let it go at midnight." An explained, Pointing at the sky.

"huh, it's already that late?" I said, surprised, looking up and seeing the moon quite high.

"Yes, haven't you notice how dark it is?" An said, intrigued.

"nope was too preoccupied the entire night to think about it," I said, shrugging.

"Sigh with what. Going around destroying people's businesses?"

"ah, Katie, let's go get some drink?"  Kayda said, letting go of my hand and grabbing Katie running off.

"she, she just left me," I said, baffled.

"Yes, just like that, she left you. Hahaha." An laughed, finding my reaction very funny.

"tch, so what did you guys do the entire night?" I said, taking a seat next to An.

"well, after you guys left us. We went and got ourselves some smoothies. After that, Katie wanted to get a candy apple. Probably her worst choice ever. The guy tried to rip us off, asking for 1 silver for one. I wasn't having it and used and frightened him. But the problem is once we got it, the candy apple was rotten inside. Like, what the hell? How can you sell rotten apple!" An complained aggressively.

"man, that really does sound familiar," I said sarcastically.

"what the rotten apple?"

"No, no, someone trying to rip someone off for a candy apple," I said, shrugging.

"Really, it happened to you guys as well." An said, surprised.

"yeah, the apples weren't rotten, though. However, way too sweet for me." I said with a discussed expression.

"I could see that coming."

"Yeah, me too, but Kayda said I must try it."

"Why didn't you share one then?" An asked with a lifted eyebrow.

"... I didn't want to," I said, looking away.

"Are you? Whatever, back to our story." An said, waving me off.

"right."

"After we were done there getting our money back, we went to some games, but for some reason, there was a giant mob of people attacking this one guy because he was cheating in his game?" 

"oh, I did hear a lot of shouting at some point," I said, rubbing my chin.

"yeah, it was quite annoying to defuse the situation."

"I could imagine."

"now that was fine and all. Stuff like this happens every time, but after we left you guys with that child, the problem is that. Scenarios like that one began to pop up everywhere, and do you know what all of them have in common?"

"hmm, I have no clue what you are talking about?" I said, tilting my head at her innocently. 

"is that so? So, if I tell you that all this happened because of a red fox, you won't understand what I am talking about."

"Nope, not at all. Anyways Katie said you will teach me how to dance."

"how to dance?"

"Yeah, I can't dance."

"your good in close combat, right."

"mediocre, I guess."

"on whose standards?"

"My mom, why?"

"Okay, so you are advanced, alright."

"... how are you going to teach me?"

"Let's get some flat ground first. Then I will show you."

"Okay," I said, helping An to stand up.

"let's go there."

"you sure you will be fine walking around."

"Yeah, I should be fine." An said, reassuring me."

"Okay, if you say so," I said, walking with her to the spot she pointed out.

"Okay, now give me your hands." An said, turning around and looking right at me with her hands out.

"okay?" I mumbled, giving her my hands.

"Hey, not like that. They still need to be on your body!!!" An yelled, touching my hands at me after I cut them off and gave them to her.

"ha-ha, okay, okay here," I said, laughing at her disgusted expression before holding out my hands as well.

"tch, you stupid fox." An muttered a few more curses before she took me at hand and pulled me closer to her.

"Woah, okay, now what."

"now, I am going to lead you as the female part of the dance. I will show you what the male part does, but yeah." An explained, nodding at me.

"Okay," I said, nodding back.

"now, your right hand goes on my waist while my left hand will be on your shoulder. The other two hands will be stretched out like this. Don't hold it too far but also not too close." I explained, moving my right to her waist and taking our other hands out to the side bedded slightly.

"Okay, now what."

"now, you work on your instincts."

"what? Woah, we start." I said, feeling An foot starting to move on the ground.

"ha-ha, there you go, not so bad, is it."

"I don't really know what you mean?" I said very confusedly.

"sigh, your dumbass, we are dancing right now."

"huh? What do you mean we are dancing? I am only dodging your feet- oh, now I get it. That's why you guys asked about all those dumb questions." I said with a surprised face. All the while, An and I was moving to an unheard rhythm.

"wow, your mom is good." I heard Kayda say from the side in a surprised tone.

"Yeah, of course she is the best when it comes to teaching someone anything."

"I object!" I said, coming to a stop and looking at Katie. Looking at them now, you could see both of them were caring some crated with things in it.

"What?"

"I object that your mother is better at teaching than mine," I said while helping An back to a seat close to us.

"What, but you just learned how to dance in like 5 minutes."

"Not really. All I know is how to move around and not step on people's toes. Knowing how to dance means that you can take the lead anytime." I said, shrugging, ignoring the sigh from An.

"no, that's not how it works."

"It is. Being able to swing a sword doesn't make you a fighter, right?" I said determinedly.

"That that might be true, but dancing is way different, nope."

"Nope, it's the same."

"Yeah, I actually agree with Kitsu here. It is kind of like that, but Kitsuna, I wasn't actually finished teaching you."

"I know, but they are back with some treatment, and I ain't waiting."

"but."

"I will just watch other people dance before Kayda, and I start to just in case," I explain, taking a crape from Kayda.

"oh, okay." An said reluctantly.

"So, how was the same lesson?" Kayda asked, taking her own crape.

"fruitful, I guess," I said, shrugging.

"That's good to hear. So, we can dance later tonight."

"We can, but where will it even happen."

"ah, that's true. Hey, An, where is the ballroom going to be?"

"ah, the plan is to make the open area where they are flowers, but if that doesn't work out. It's going to be around it. just some stall will be taken down beforehand." An explained while eating her own crape Katie got her.

"Ah, see, that sounds interesting. Are there going to be a platform set up for it?" Kayda asked, intrigued.

"yes, they will jump in to do it the moment the flower goes." An explained, smiling as if she needed to be praised.

"wait, how fast will they need to set up something like that," I asked, surprised they could move so fast.

"few minutes. They are a crew over a hundred, so they should be fine." An said, still smiling.

"oh, that many will work on it. Then I guess it's a solid plan." I said, nodding in agreement.

"ha-ha, there were multiple people planning this event. Of course, they would think of all the possibilities." An boasted in confidence.

"Is that so. What if I could regain control over my own mana in that flower? What would you have done?" I asked, intrigued at what she would say.

"ah, right, there was that possibility too. So can you?"

"ha-ha, don't worry that there is not mine anymore. I can feel it, but I can't control it at all," I said, laughing at her worried face.

"Sigh, thank god."

"ha-ha, anyways, what else did you get us, Kayda?" I asked, bringing my attention back to Kayda sitting next to me.

"Hmm, meatballs ribs. Oh, pork shredded crapes 6 of them extra fat for them." Kayda said, taking out some tips, making me smile, knowing what it was.

"Hehe, you just know what to get me," I said, taking the small tubs from her.

"yes, yes, of course, my little fox."

"... No, don't call me that."

"Yeah, I agree that sounded way too weird," Kayda said, nodding her head. 

"So, how did you make them give you the bones?"

"oh yes, they actually do sell them like that for dog owners," Kayda explained, getting quieter the more she talked.

"oh, so you bought it at a pet shop."

"yes, in a way, it was a pet stall," Kayda said, still not looking at me.

"huh, a pet," I mumbled, tilting my head while looking towards the flower.

"anyways."

"Hmm, are you like going to say something," I asked, looking at Kayda, who was still facing away from me.

"..."

"oh, Katie, let's go check up on the stage."

"What why. You said everything would be fine without your support."

"aah, I just thought we might miss some more things, which are all. Now let's go." An said, pushing Katie to walk faster.

"but-"

"Katie, let's go." An said, looking at her daughter with narrowed eyes."

"Okay, okay, we are going," Katie said, helping her mother into the wheelchair before walking away with seeing you later.

"ah, what was that all about?" I said, tilting my head.

"I think they thought we wanted privacy."

"oh yeah, that is something you won't, don't you," I said, looking at her with a cheeky smile.

"yeah... so what's your answer."

"Didn't I say I will answer at the end of the night?" I asked with a stutter.

"I know, but I can't wait anymore," Kayda said seriously.

"I, I see. Uhm, what was the question again."

"Kitsu."

"Sorry, I really forgot exactly what the question was," I said, smiling awkwardly.

"sigh you. Whatever the question was, what am I in your eyes?"

"oh, right, we were talking about cannon fodder."

"yes, now answer the question."

"... okay let's forget about that cannon fodder because you're not that for me. Not at all."

"Okay, so."

"I guess you're my second most important person," I said awkwardly.

"... is Stacy first." 

"Yeah, sorry, I just can't."

"don't worry, I understand you being a mommy girl," Kayda said teasingly.

"ugh, that's so mean," I said, making a hurtful expression.

"... Where does Zagan sit?"

"Zagan? What does... oh right, we were like that." I said, nodding sage-like.

"so," Kayda said impatiently.

"he isn't part of it. Like it's been 14 years since then, why he would be one of my important people?"

"I don't know."

"wait, are you jealous?"

"... Maybe," Kayda mumbled so lightly that I barely heard it.

"sigh, Kayda, the closest person that will ever become a lover to me is you... and Stacy. But I can't really choose Stacy as she is my mother. So yeah." I said, feeling a bit weird.

"Wait, are you saying you actually love me?" Kayda said, flustered.

"well... no? I don't know. I am not sure."

"So, you don't love me, but I am one of your precious people," Kayda said, dishearten.

"Hey, hey, calm down. You know I am not that good with love stuff," I said, a bit frustrated.

"But how can't you know the difference?"

"That..."

"Now, don't come and say you never... felt any. Wait, I guess it is plausible looking at your past. Fuck I am sorry."

"It's fine, but I can make it clear where it stands."

"what stands."

"My feelings for you, of course."

"I see. Go on."

"well, I already know I love Stacy, but as a mother, definitely. But there is Amari that I am also quite important to me, but their sort of importance is totally different from yours for me."

"... so, you are in love with me but can't say it."

"that's not it!" I said, flustered.

"then what is it."

"ugh fuck it," I mumbled, grabbing Kaydas's collar. I yanked her towards me, kissing her just when the flower exploded in sparling light, making quite the romantic scene.

Boom!

"hmmm!!" Kayda moaned in surprise, but it didn't take long for her to kiss me back.

'Fuck, this is going to be addictive.' I thought, grabbing Kayda around the waist and lifting her onto my lap.

[unknown time later]

"haa haa, that was intense." Kayda said, sounding very satisfied. 

"ah, if you say so," I said, landing against the bench's back and taking a breather.

"by the way, Kitsu, you aren't that bad at kissing."

"... Kayda, how would you know?" I said, looking at him suspiciously.

"it's addictive, so your good?" Kayda explained, tilting her head at me.

"sigh, kissing someone you like is good no matter what," I said, sighing at her behaviour.

'not that I    know if it's true or not.' I thought, snickering.

"is that so."

"So now what."

"Continue?" Kayda said seriously.

"no, that's enough for outside, thank you." 

"oh, are you embarrassed to do it in public?"

"... Kayda are you into exhibitionism? Like sorry, but I am not going to do things in public." I said, shaking my head at her disappointment.

"... that's not it. I am just high on happiness. Just ignore whatever I said." 

"You mean lust, not happiness, you are damn lustful teenager," I said, giving her a deadpan look.

"Ugh, you so mean Kitsu," Kayda whined, pouting, shaving her head on my chest.

"Kayda, my chest isn't somewhere you can hide your face," I said, looking down at her.

"but they are so comfy." Kayda muffled, shaking her head sideways in my chest.

"you pervert," I said, throwing Kayda off me onto the ground.

"Eh? Why did you do that."

"you are a pervert getting all touchy-feely."

"... you can feel me up if you want to," Kayda said, trying to sound serious.

"that fuck, woman, we are in the middle of a festival."

"well, that didn't stop you with that long as kiss," Kayda said with a mischievous grin. 

"That was something at the moment," I said, trying to defend myself.

"but it doesn't change that we did that in public."

".." ignoring her, I took some bones out of the tubs Kayda brought a while ago.

"oh, come on, don't be like that," Kayda whined, sitting next to me.

"There isn't any residence of mana left after my flower went boom, rawr."

"I am surprised about it too. Thought it will stay here, not like your tick coming and going all the time." Kayda said with a teasing voice.

"tch, it's so annoying, rawr," I said, blushing.

"ha-ha, but it's so cute."

"wait until you get a tick like that, an then tell me it's cute, rawr."

"ah yeah, no, thank you. That sounds way too embarrassing." Kayda said, laying her head onto my lap after picking up my hands.

"Now, how am I supposed to eat like this, rawr," I said, looking down at her with narrowed eyes while holding my hands above her. 

"I don't know. That sounds like a you-mffb."

"huh, your face is quite a good holder," I said, giggling only to make a face of horror seeing my tub of bones sent flying.

"Kitsuna, what the hell was that for!" Kayda shouted, annoyed.

"Right, I caught them, rawr," I said happily.

"Kitsuna~."

"So, when do you think, they will start playing music?" I asked, looking in the direction my flower was.

"oh, don't think that you will get away from this," Kayda said with a dangerous grin.

"hmm, I know, rawr," I said, smiling at her.

"Kitsuna What are you-mmh." Kayda started saying that. Before she could react, I reappeared before her, giving her a kiss again. This time though, it was only a peck.

"there you go, cutie. let's go to the middle and see how everything goes." I said, taking her hand and walking towards the middle of the festival.

"That's so unfair," Kayda said, blushing like a little girl.

"Your one to talk," I said, not looking back at her.

"Ah, right," Kayda said shamefully.

"Sigh, at least you admitted to it," I said, shaking my head at her.

"yeah yeah, let's pick up the pace. A lot of people are moving in that direction. We need to get a good spot."

"Okay, then let's run," I said before both of us disappeared, jumping onto the roofs of the stalls.

'hope my yukata doesn't get lost while we run, but...' I thought, looking at Kayda or, more specifically, her yukata.

"Hey, concentrate on where you are running, not your partner?" Kayda said sarcastically.

"but that's not what some dance instructor said?" I said sarcastically, jumping onto the next stall roof.

"what?"

"You know you only concentrate on your partner in dancing, right?"

"Kitsu, I don't think that's how it works."

"Really, I read something like that on earth, though?" I said, tilting my head.

"... that place might be more advanced than here, but people there are quite dumb, aren't they?" 

"Uh, I won't say that" I said, not really knowing how to answer her.

"What, you don't know how to rebuke that?" Kayda said, baffled.

"not really. I can't think of anything," I said a bit awkwardly.

"ha-ha, I guess you can't always have an answer."

"Well, anyway, we are here. That's huge." I said just when we both landed on the ground next to the giant stage. The stage was about 3 meters into the air, so I couldn't exactly see how big it was, but it covered the entire place where my flowers were and then some.

"Right, that thing is huge," Kayda said in agreement.

"So, how many do you think will fit on it?" I asked.

"I don't know, but we will find out tonight, look," Kayda said, pointing at the side of the stage where people were busy climbing onto it.

"Yeah, now let's go," Kayda said, giving me a peck before grabbing my hand and dragging me onto the stage.

'Didn't she say she can't lead?' I thought, confused at her.